The Crespo family from Guáimaro, Camagüey, reported the theft of the wrought iron gate that protected the front of their family vault in the local cemetery, marking the third robbery endured by its members in 2026.
The complaint was sent to CiberCuba on behalf of the family, which claims that the cemetery is virtually abandoned and lacks supervision.
"It is a virtually abandoned cemetery, without guardians or any kind of security, and these things end up happening with no one to answer," they noted.
The robbery in the vault adds to two others experienced by the family this year: one involving a moped and the other concerning building materials from their home. Both incidents were reported to the authorities, but, according to the victims, they have not received an effective response so far.
According to the message sent to CiberCuba, the family has submitted their complaint to the State Council and to provincial and national bodies, including the authorities of Communal Services.
"We feel a significant lack of attention from the authorities of Comunales, the Government, and the responsible institutions," they stated.
The photographs sent to this outlet show the family vault and evidence of the deterioration of funeral structures, with peeling paint, cracks, and vegetation growing around them.
The case adds to a pattern of thefts, vandalism, and neglect reported in Cuban cemeteries over the past few years.
In June, a family reported the desecration of niches at the Colón Cemetery in Havana, where they found broken graves, exposed skeletal remains, and stolen pieces of marble, bronze, and iron. A month earlier, residents of Pinar del Río reported looting of planters and metal crucifixes, while in August, the theft of human remains was reported at Kilo 12 Cemetery in Sancti Spíritus.
Camagüey has not escaped the deterioration of its cemeteries. In November 2025, images of coffins in hallways and human remains went viral from the General Cemetery of the city. In response to the criticism, the Municipal Services Company attempted to justify the conditions of the site. Months later, the family of artist Camila Lobón reported that they found their family vault empty and that the remains had disappeared.
Thefts are also part of a broader scenario of insecurity. The Cuban Observatory of Citizen Auditing documented 2,833 crimes in Cuba during 2025, a 115% increase from the previous year. Thefts topped the records, with 1,536 cases.
At the beginning of September, the United States Embassy in Havana also issued a warning about a general increase in crime in Cuba, with particular focus on vehicle-related thefts.
For the Crespo family, however, the immediate demand is much closer to home: that someone take responsibility for what happened in the vault where their relatives rest.
"More than anything, we want what is happening to be known and for someone to take responsibility," they summarized.
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